How to stop your darling children wrecking your finances
Having kids was easily the worst financial decision of my life. When they're not eating me out of house and home, it's the cost of clubs, shoes, lost school jumpers and broken stuff that makes me weep silently into my cup of tea each morning. But we all know about these costs — you would be naive if you didn't.
There are a few things, however, that I wish I had known before embarking on this family project.
When I went on maternity leave for the first time back in 2016 I had saved up for it, but money was still looking a bit tight. So I thought: shall I just pause my pension for a year? It didn't seem like much to lose in
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BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Lockdown businesses thriving five years after Covid
Five years ago, the Covid-19 lockdown was still in force, with wide-ranging impacts that are still being felt some, thought, it was a chance to try something different and launch a have they fared and was the gamble worth it? 'It was really something to keep me busy' This weekend Leah Sigsworth will open a pop-up shop in London's Fitzrovia to mark five years since the birth of Ethereal 23, from Northamptonshire, started the company in her parents' back garden during lockdown."When I started, it was really something to keep me busy. It was for my own mental health; it was something to do during the loneliness of the Covid lockdown," she September 2020, she had begun a creative writing degree at the University of Lincoln, and carried on with the business, working with her boyfriend, Hugh Walker, also now 23. "Then, when I graduated, I sat down with Hugh, and my parents and said, 'Can we do this full-time?' and we did."Leah, who was was state educated at Sharnbrook Academy, Bedfordshire, says: "I fell in love with being a business owner. I liked the freedom. It's given us so much;it's actually insane thinking about it.""We only launched on Tiktok Shop in November last year, which went crazy, I now have about 227,000 followers. "We've been to TikTok headquarters a couple of times since. It's probably about 70% of our business, with the rest through website sales and Instagram, where I have 27,000 followers." The business now employs four people, including her mother Cara Sigsworth and occasionally her father Richard and sister Sophie, 20."We're also looking at some new external hires as well," says year she decided to travel the world with Hugh while working remotely. "We were also saving for our own home. We found a cottage for sale when we came back from travelling, put an offer in, it was accepted and five months later, in December, we moved in." As the online face of the brand, she frequently appears in social media posts but prides herself on always being herself."I don't always have a full face of makeup, and my hair sometimes looks absolutely hideous, and I'll make videos in my pyjamas," she says."I think sharing every day on social media is sometimes tough because you are sharing when all the bad things happen, so I've tried to be really open and honest."I'll say 'Look guys, I'm really struggling with anxiety this week', or if we've had a really rubbish week because of an email a customer has sent me."Mostly, though, life is good."I've started a brand, it's given me a lot of hope and it all happened by accident," she says. 'Entrepreneurship could be a very rewarding career path' Oksana Koryak, a lecturer in entrepreneurship at Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, says the Covid pandemic created "a window of time for people to actually concentrate, and create the mindspace to think about something that might be a viable business idea".She says: "It was a catalyst for some entrepreneurial soul-searching."I think we all have it within us. It's not something that you're born with, it's a combination of the environment that you've been exposed to and opportunities that come your way."One thing for would-be entrepreneurs to remember, she says, is that younger people are very "TikTok-driven".She says: "It's creating a product that people might like and communicating what it is in the way that is relatable to that particular demographic; that is really important."I generally believe that entrepreneurship could be a very rewarding career path for many people."Even if we are in full employment, I think it's still important to be entrepreneurial, and to look out for opportunities on behalf of our employers, or even just as a side hustle." 'We've sold £1m worth of coffee and donuts' "It's been crazy," is how Aaron Shade, 34, from Bedford, describes the past five years. He and his fiancée Sarah Ball had successful careers in sales and to spend more time with their family, they started their own business within the travel industry. When Covid took hold, it was "wiped out", so they looked for a new challenge and started SAY Doughnuts in April 2020, from their now employs 18 people and has two shops, in Bedford and Hitchin, Hertfordshire"We started with just the two of us, selling to friends and family, and then it spread really quickly and organically, and we also sold wholesale goods to cafes and delis in surrounding towns like, Ampthill, Maulden, Woburn Sands, Newport Pagnell, Stony Stratford, Olney and Hitchin," says they outgrew the family kitchen in March 2021, they got the keys to a retail unit that they converted into a bakery. For a year they also had a shop in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, but it closed in late 2024. "We will expand again, but we have to be cautious. I would like to be in Cambridge," he says. "I'm still normal, I still live in my same house but we've sold over £1m worth of coffee and doughnuts.""It sounds like we should be flying, but that's not how business works."We've lost a lot in Berkhamsted and still have to live off this business with no salaries coming in from anywhere else."The business is "looking at the future", he says."We're a household name in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, with 16,600 followers on Instagram. "It's insane. Not many businesses get this far. We've lent on friends and family to get us here."It's been a bit of a rollercoaster. " Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Meera Sodha's vegan recipe for black rice, red cabbage and tempeh salad
I'm a subscriber to The Imperfectionist, Oliver Burkeman's newsletter on building a meaningful life, in which he recently wrote about navigating life via 'aliveness', which he describes as 'a subtle electrical charge'. I chase that feeling a lot in the kitchen, and it's how I feel when I eat a great salad, all vibrant and energised, as if I've just cycled through gorgeous countryside or been on a hike. I find it hard to write recipes for such salads, though, perhaps because there are often so many ingredient variations and little precedence, but today's one made the cut. If you make it, please let me know if it made you feel 'perky' in any way. Tempeh is widely available in big supermarkets these days, and I like the ones produced by Tiba and Tofoo, but I also love the small-batch tempehs made by Tempeh Meades and Club Cultured. Prep 20 minCook 25 minServes 4 generously125g black rice (not glutinous)Fine sea salt 3 tbsp toasted sesame oil 4 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp white miso paste – I like Miso Tasty2 limes, zested and juiced (to get 3 tbsp juice)2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced4cm x 3cm piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated2½ tbsp maple syrup 2 spring onions, trimmed, finely sliced, rinsed and drained60g whole almonds, roughly chopped300g tempeh, cut into 1cm-wide strips200g red cabbage, finely shredded2 pak choi (250g), washed and thinly sliced lengthways50g bunch basil, leaves picked to get 30g Boil the rice in salted water according to the packet instructions (as a general rule of thumb, I use a teaspoon of salt for every litre of water), then drain and put to one side. While the rice is cooking, get on with the rest of the salad. In a big bowl, whisk the sesame oil, half the olive oil, the miso, lime juice, garlic, ginger, a tablespoon of the maple syrup and three-quarters of a teaspoon of salt. Throw in the sliced spring onions and toss. Have ready a plate to the side of the stove. Put the almonds in a large frying pan, turn on the heat to medium and toast, stirring regularly, for eight minutes, until fragrant. Drizzle over the remaining tablespoon and a half of maple syrup and stir for another minute, until caramelised. Transfer to the plate and sprinkle with a big pinch of salt. Rinse out the pan, then heat the remaining two tablespoons of olive oil. Once it's hot, lay in the tempeh strips and fry for three minutes on each side, until golden and crisp. Add the cabbage, cook for another three minutes, until wilted, then tip the lot into the dressing bowl. Add the pak choi to the bowl, too, toss to combine, then fold in the rice and basil leaves. Tip out in a big mound on to a platter and serve.
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Bottoms up! Dreary weather no match for Epsom's winning women on Ladies Day as racegoers celebrate their winnings in style
Glamorous racegoers descended on Surrey for Epsom Ladies' Day - and they certainly didn't disappoint. Donning an entire rainbow of bright colours, revellers braced a wet start and light rain for the opening day of two-day festival, which includes the Coronation Day and the Oaks. As the races began and the sun came out, revellers wasted no time in getting the booze out - and getting the party started by popping champagne and sipping on pints. The ensembles on display at Epsom Downs Racecourse for the Derby Festival were as daring as ever, with low-scooped corset style tops on display alongside daring thigh splits. Others dressed for the occasion with bright and vibrant fascinators, oozing glitz in a bid to be crowned best dressed. Friday's events commenced at 1.30pm, with the Betfred Oaks at 4pm. The final sprint took place just after 5pm - with Marvin Humes providing DJ entertainment for revellers for the rest of the evening. Ladies Day features the third Classic race of the season, The Betfred Oaks. This highly-anticipated race day is also a chance for racegoers to showcase their style, with colourful dresses, wide-brimmed hats and fancy fascinators. The website calls Ladies' Day 'a spectacular, gleeful celebratory day where people come together to join in racing's most spectacular carnival'. While all eyes are on the runners and riders of the day, the competition also provides the opportunity for the ladies attending to fight it out for who is best dressed on the other side of the fence. Epsom organisers describe the Derby, due to take place at 3.30pm tomorrow, as the 'world's greatest flat race'. With an incredible prize pot of £1.5million, the race lasts one-and-a-half miles. The owner normally receives about 75 per cent of a race's prize money, while the remaining 25 per cent is generally split between the trainer (10 per cent), the jockey (10 per cent) and then the final 5 per cent to stable staff and racing charities. However, the Derby has been issued with a yellow weather warning, with the Met Office predicting thunderstorms and hail could hit the track. Racegoers show the anticipation on their faces as the race gets underway For the past two years, the winning jockey was Ryan Moore for trainer Aidan O'Brien - however horses can only win it once. In the past, the event has been attended by a flurry of royals, including the likes of Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles, and Queen Camilla in attendance. Held at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey, the Derby was first run in 1780. It is Britain's richest flat horse race, and the most prestigious of the five Classics - the other four of which are the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, the 1,000 Guineas Stakes, the Epsom Oaks, and the St Leger Stakes. Last year, King Charles attended Ladies' Day to watch the Betfred Oaks, and his horse Treasure, bred by the late Queen, finish in 11th place. Others opted for a more traditional style, creating a bright display Donning an entire rainbow of bright colours, revellers braced a wet start and light rain for the opening day of the weekend The hats were as vibrant as ever, as one racegoer opted for bright shades of pink A pair of glamorous friends arrived in bright spirits as the day commenced No rain on my parade! One racegoer opted for a bright yellow ensemble with sparkling silver shoes Temperatures today at Epsom are set to remain around 15 degrees, but revellers should start to see some sun when the races kick off this afternoon Friday's events are set to commence at 1.30pm, with the Betfred Oaks at 4pm However, others chose to play it safe with the weather, adding a stylish blazer Newlywed Georgia Toffolo was dressed to the nines in a brown spotty blouse and elegant white skirt Among the celebrity arrivals were Gabby and Kenny Logan Revellers changed into their finery, carrying flat shoes for the partying ahead Racegoers caught the giggles as they posed for photographs Ladies Day features the third Classic race of the season, The Betfred Oaks Attendees glammed up with Gucci accessorises and gold jewellery Harry Redknapp during Ladies Day of the Betfred Derby Festival at Epsom Downs Racecourse Though the rain appeared to have eased off, racegoers still held onto their hats amid the wind By contrast, Cheltenham Racing Festival, which takes place in March, has taken the decision to rename 'Ladies' Day' as 'Style Wednesday' to encourage both men and women to take part in the fashion competition. The Jockey Club, which runs 15 courses across the UK, also ditched the Best Dressed competition. Instead, the day now includes the Slow Fashion awards, open to both men and women, which 'celebrates vintage and borrowed items, as well as investment pieces'. A spokesperson for Cheltenham Racecourse said last year: 'This year we re-launched day two of The Festival as Style Wednesday to celebrate "fast horses, slow fashion", encouraging racegoers to make more sustainable fashion choices, showcasing their unique and personal style, and to share the stories behind their amazing outfits with friends, family and on social media. 'This includes re-wearing outfits they already have in their wardrobes, purchasing timeless garments to wear again and again and also buying from retailers specialising in pre-loved clothing.'
